Shel Silverstein wrote the first poems I remember reading and they were frequently silly, but it was a silliness that kept me reading all of his work, some of which, is not so silly. Between Silverstein and MAD Magazine, I cane to enjoy language that had a sense of humor, even if it came with … Continue reading My Earliest Poetry Experiences + An Exercise + A Poem
With my current job I travel more than I ever have. One way I stave off homesickness is by reading books my wife has given me (and rereading poems we’ve written for each other). The one I keep picking up for now is Letters to Véra, Vladimir Nabokov’s letters to Véra Slonim from their first … Continue reading Good night. The day seems to be breaking. The sky is green.–Friday Love Letters
In the ancient world, being a fierce warrior wasn’t enough. Nicias was known as a strong soldier, but a careful general, which was not smiled upon at the time. In fact, it earned him scorn. Aristophanes, who also famously lampooned Socrates, made him a verb. It’s awkwardly translated sometimes as “shilly-shally-niciasize” and more simply as … Continue reading Verbing Nicias and Other Sundry from Plutarch’s Lives
Twenty-First Century playtime: 5YO: I have to take care of this puppy because my mom got this puppy with her husband but then they broke up. They were married but they broke up and now I have this puppy because my mom’s on vacation and the puppy’s babysitter called in sick. ___________________ Last weekend the … Continue reading All About That Broth and Indoor Bug Canopies
Originally written for The Terror Test episode grading The Fireman, Baskin, and Southbound. Satan, oscillate my metallic sonatas! or Repetition In Heaven and Hell “I think this story is about Hell. A version where you are condemned to do the same thing over and over again. Existentialism, baby, what a concept: paging Albert Camus. There’s an idea … Continue reading From the Eunoia Archives: The Terror Test: Test Prep #6
My thoughts burn with snow–the hazards of Alabamasummer haiku. Continue reading Little Billboards #4
Sometimes I can’t tellif she’s eating yogurt ortubes of clown makeup. Continue reading Little Billboards #6
I wrote earlier about Sertorius and his white fawn. Another aspect of Plutarch’s Sertorius that I find striking is the introduction that has correspondences to both Jung’s synchronicity and Freud’s uncanny. With Jung’s notion we get meaningful coincidence and pattern detection which are here in Plutarch’s opening. With Freud’s uncanny, we get doubling and doppelgängers, … Continue reading The Land of One-Eyed Men: More of Plutarch’s Life of Sertorius
Her hand cups the rain,while my ears cup her laughter.Then–daylight thunder. Continue reading Little Billboards #9
Stephen McClurg 